Crippled Derby Ace confident of final stint

MANILA, Philippines - Despite their crippled lineup and their loss in Game One, B-MEG Derby Ace main man James Yap remains confident they can compete with Talk n Text and have a good shot at a return stint in the PBA Philippine Cup finals.

Yap and his teammates seek an equalizer versus the Tropang Texters in Game Two of their best-of-seven semifinals showdown Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

On the same day, San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra begin their own semis duel.

“Kaya yan (We can),” Yap answered readily when asked on whether they can beat Talk n Text with their decimated lineup and all.

“We beat them in Game Two and I think they will feel the pressure,” Yap added.

Putting up a tough challenge in Game One though playing minus top point guard Roger Yap made the two-time MVP winner confident that, with extra push, they can beat the playoff top seeds.

The Llamados roared back then from two 19-point third-quarter deficits and made the game close before yielding, 91-98.

They did that even with Roger Yap sitting out the game with a sore foot. Yap joined in the sideline Rafi Reavis who has not played the entire season due to hand and foot injuries.

The two are still doubtful in Game Two.

“We’ll still be there fighting,” said coach Jorge Gallent.

“We had a chance to win in the end (in Game One). It showed we can beat Talk n Text,” Gallent added. “We just have to play our game, play our roles and stop their key player. We do that and we have a good chance to win.”

Bucking an aching hamstring and a stiff back, James Yap exploded for a conference-high 36 points, including 10-of-14 from the foul line, as he led a big Llamados comeback to give the Texters a big scare in the homestretch.

The Texters survived in the end, though and left the Llamados trailing 0-1 in the series.

One key adjustment made by Talk n Text was to put Kelly Williams opposite Yap at endgame.

Yap, however, believed he was able to play his game even with Williams defending him.

“Naka-shoot pa rin ako,” said Yap, adding he would still be ready in Game Two.

Yap and the Llamados hope to become the first team in over two decades to repeat as all-Filipino champions.

Overall, the franchise is out to nail an unprecedented sixth crown in the league’s most prestigious tourney.

Meanwhile, Arwind Santos, Joe De Vance, Harvey Carey and Jay Washington finished almost even on top in the stats race through the quarterfinal round.

Santos wound up with an average of 34.7 statistical points (SPs) per game while De Vance ended up with 34.5, Carey 34.4 and Washington 34.1.

At fifth was Rudy Hatfield with 30.6, followed by Ali Peek (30.2), Jimmy Alapag (30.0), Mark Cardona (29.7) and Kelly Williams (29.5).

Rabeh Al-Hussaini was the leading rookie player, tying Dondon Hontiveros at 10th place overall with 29.3 SPs each.